The District Hospital in a village in Kyrgyzstan serves the inhabitants of 35 villages in the mountainous and impoverished area. Due to financial strain, hospital services are limited and many inhabitants do not receive regular medical care. In order to reach the most remote villages a Village Health Committee program was created. Village Health Committees operate in each village and are run by local volunteers. The Committees identify the most serious health problems in their villages and then are given support and regular trainings by hospital staff. The Committees use these training to promote awareness and activism within their village communities. The program has been very successful and research has shown decreased levels of anemia, iodine deficiency and alcohol consumption since the program’s inception.

The goal of this project is to renovate the training facility in the District Hospital in order to increase the number and effectiveness of health seminars for Village Health Committee members. The training facility at the hospital is currently in severe disrepair and is in need of new windows, a new heating system and chairs. The hospital will contribute all labor and transportation for the project. The completed training facility will provide the Village Health Committees and the larger hospital staff with an important resource which will improve the lives of the greater community

Note: This summary was provided by a Peace Corps Volunteer and the community administering this project.